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Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Email: [email protected]

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Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Email: Aonaddeko@Unilag.Edu.Ng Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies & Management 9 (1): 22 – 34, 2016. ISSN:1998-0507 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ejesm.v9i1.3 Submitted: July 06, 2015 Accepted: January 07, 2015 DISTRIBUTION, DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF ANURAN SPECIES IN THREE DIFFERENT VEGETATION HABITATS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA ONADEKO, A.B. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Abstract The distribution, diversity and abundance of anuran species in three different vegetation habitats of Southwestern Nigeria were investigated. A total mean number of 388 individuals comprising 32 species were observed in the forest, 766 individuals in 28 species were recorded in the fallowed farmland and 278 individuals in 21 species in the savanna. There was significant difference (F 2, 129 = 3.602) between the numbers of anuran species inhabiting the three vegetation habitats at P < 0.05 as well as significant difference (F 2, 129 = 5.811) between the number of individuals of anuran species in the three vegetation habitats (P<0.01). The dominant species in the forest was Arthroleptis variabilis (9.02%) and the least abundant species in the forest were Leptopelis macrotis, Phlyctimantis boulengeri and Nectophryne afra each having 0.26%. Amietophrynus maculatus and A. regularis were both abundant in the fallowed farmland and savanna habitats. The least abundant species in the fallowed farmland was Leptopelis calcaratus (0.13%) while the least abundant in the savanna were Xenopus muelleri and Afrixalus dorsalis each with 0.72%. Thirty percent of anuran species observed occurred in all the vegetation habitats, while 27%, 11% and 7% were restricted to the forest, fallowed farmland and savanna respectively. Most amphibian species were observed and collected between the 18h-21h sampling time frame which confers them as mostly nocturnal in habit. Conservation efforts must be enforced to protect the vegetative structure against unsustainable forest practices in order to protect and maintain the biodiversity status of the region. Key Words: Distribution, Diversity, Nigeria, Vegetation, Forest and Savanna Introduction Forest destruction caused by The first major threat to populations of anthropogenic activities such as bush amphibians is habitat destruction. burning, farming, grazing and urbanization Throughout the history of civilization, have over several millennia changed the human activities have been detrimental to original vegetation cover across the world the natural biota (Duellman and Trueb , especially the forest regions (Schiotz, 1986). This is particularly evident in the 1963; Adejuwon, 1976; Ogigirigi, 1986; clearing of the forest which houses the Bakarr et al. , 2001 and Boone and Bridges, greatest diversity of anurans. 2003). 22 Distribution, Diversity and Abundance of Anuran Species in ................ ONADEKO, A.B. This has had a negative impact on the agricultural cultivation of peasant farmers. ability of amphibians to thrive and As a result of these agricultural practices reproduce successfully (Blaustein and especially shifting agriculture, a lot of Bancroft , 2007 and Becker et al, 2007). vegetation which were originally forest is These phenomena have caused the left to fallow eg. fallowed farmlands which disappearance of biodiversity. are of various degrees of growth. These Forest harvesting in Africa has evolved fallowed farmlands form a major part of considerably since 1950 (FAO, 1985b). In the vegetative structures, therefore also Nigeria, the net volume of logs utilized is constituting a habitat for amphibian still fairly limited where domestic markets species. Also according to Udo (1970), have supplanted exports as compared to apart from the forest forming one of the other countries such as Congo and Gabon major vegetation, the savanna where 75 percent of the timber trade (insignificant tree cover, with grasses and volume consists of exports (Kio et al., flowers located between the trees) which is 1985). Presently in Nigeria, about 65.2% drier forms a major vegetation cover in of the vegetation has been lost to Nigeria. This paper documents the agricultural practices and only 4.9% are diversity, distribution and abundance of undisturbed, mangrove and montane amphibian species in these three vegetation forests ( www.fao.org ). NEST (1991), regions of Southwestern Nigeria which are described the plant cover of the country as the forests, fallowed farmlands and a patchwork of farmlands, plantations and savanna. secondary vegetation at varying stages of regrowth and maturity. Perhaps the most Materials and Methods matured regrowth vegetation exists in Study Area areas that have been set aside as forest or The states in which the study was game reserves, in fetish groves outside the conducted were Oyo, Ogun and Lagos reserves or in remote inaccessible areas States in Southwestern Nigeria. Lagos (NEST, 1991). State is situated between Latitude 6.4 ○ and Ayobami (1988) observed that 6.67 ○ N and longitude 2.7 ○ and 4.43 ○ E; vegetation modification and man-induced Ogun State between Latitude 6.3 ○ and environmental change in rural 7.75 ○ N and Longitude 2.7 ○ and 4.6 ○ E; Southwestern Nigeria has negatively and Oyo State between Latitude 7.08 ○ and affected the soil-vegetation system 9.2 ○ N and Longitude 2.7 ○ and 4.55 ○ E especially caused by the shifting (Figure 1). 23 Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 9 no.1 2016 Figure 1: States of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo in Nigeria where study sites were located. Sampling Design and Methods recorded from four stations location at Selection and Sampling of Study Sites Ikeja, Ijebu Ode, Ibadan and Ilorin. Ikeja is Several of the study sites selected was in Lagos State which is the southernmost visited previously between July 2003 and position (freshwater and moist forest December 2004 (Onadeko and Rodel, zone); Ijebu Ode and Ibadan are located in 2009) for amphibian surveys. Each of Ogun State occupying the middle region these sites had an approximate size of (moist and deciduous forest); and Ilorin is about 30,000m 2 and their position taken in the northern most region (savanna) at with the Global Positioning System the border of Oyo State. The extracted data (G.P.S.). These chosen sites were of these climatic stations were representative of the vegetative zones corroborated with the vegetation types. (forest, fallowed farmland and savanna Amphibian specimens were located zones) within the study area. opportunistically by careful examination of Sampling was carried out early suspected refuges and hiding places such morning (6-9h), afternoon (12-15h) and at as under stones, fallen wood, panels, night (18-21h) by a team of four plastics and amongst leaf litter. Vegetation individuals. Each site was visited twice a surrounding and overhanging aquatic year with two days of intensive work to environments were searched thoroughly. cover the sampling time frame during the There was careful inspection of broad rainy season from 2005-2007. The climatic leaved hydrophytes that harboured arboreal data (rainfall and temperature) were species. Hand dipnets (model WTG-E006) 24 Distribution, Di versity and Abundance of Anuran Species in ................ ONADEKO, A.B. with mesh size of 10mm were used to (consisting of primary and secondary sample temporary and permanent water forests); fallowed farmland (degraded bodies for aquatic species such as Silurana forest and altered land in the former forest and Xenopus . Subterranean species such as zone consisting of different stages of Hemisus were located mainly by their vegetation growth up to tertiary level); and vocalization after leaving their burrows savanna (consisting of savanna and derived during heavy rains. The visual encounter savanna) (Table 1). survey (VES) and acoustical encounter The forest was classified either as survey (AES) were sampling techniques primary or secondary based on the density applied mainly during the day time and of vegetation (open, gaps predominating, night time surveys respectively (Rodel and closed areas predominating or closed) and Ernst, 2004). plant diameter at breast height(dbh) (dbh: Site Classification 0-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21-50 and above 50cm) Based on the vegetation type, each (Conant and Joseph , 1998). study site was classified either as forest Table 1 : Classification of study sites into vegetation region/h abitat Habitat Classification Vegetation Regions Forest Fallowed farmland Savanna Collection Sites LA 04, LA 07, LA 01, LA 02, OG 04, OG 05, LA 09, OG 02, LA 03, LA 05, OY 01, OY 04, OG 03, OG 06, LA 06, LA 08, OY 05, OY 06, OG 08, OG 10, LA 10, LA 11, OY 07, OY 08, OG 12, OY 02, OG 01, OG 07, OY 09, OY 10, OY 03 OG 09, OG 11 OY 11 LA = site in Lagos State; OG = site in Ogun State; and OY = site in Oyo State Forest = (secondary and primary forests) Fallowed farmland = (degraded forest and altered land in former forest zone consisting of different stages of vegetation growth up to tertiary level) Savanna = (savanna and derived savanna) Statistical Analysis Results The diversity indices of anuran taxa Climatic Data inhabiting the three vegetation zones were The climatic data of Southwestern analyzed (using SPSS Ver. 16) and the Nigeria was summarized from four distribution of the anuran species and their meterological stations located at Ikeja, abundance were tested for significant Ijebu Ode, Ibadan and Ilorin (Figure 2). difference using the Analysis of Variance These stations gave a general view of the (ANOVA). Multiple comparisons of climatic conditions covering the forest to significantly different means were also savanna zones. The highest and lowest analyzed. The faunal similarities of the mean rainfall of 133.11mm and 67.93mm three zones were tested using Sorenson’s were recorded at Ikeja and Ilorin quotient (Q/S). respectively, while the highest and lowest mean temperatures of 33 ○C and 31 ○C were recorded at Ilorin and Ikeja respectively. 25 Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 9 no.1 2016 Figure 2: Monthly rainfall and averaged monthly temperatures of Ikeja , Ijebu Ode, Ibadan and Ilorin (2002-2003).
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